This Tourmaline Green A124 E-class cabriolet was built in Germany in October 1994. It passed through the Australian Vehicle Preparation Centre on 13th December, was registered on 20th December by its supplying dealer G Brothers of Mona Vale, New South Wales (still a Mercedes Agent today) with the registration ACP09M before delivery to its first owner on 23rd December 1994.
The car then remained in New South Wales until 2015 when it was shipped by its then owner to London. Since July 2018 the car has been with me, its 3rd owner.
The E220 is fitted with a 2199cc 16v (148BHP) M111 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. As detailed in the ‘Supplementary Owner’s Manual for Australia’ the car is fitted with mandatory child safety seat anchorages, a mandatory third brake light and does not have a switchable Economy/ Standard mode on the automatic gearbox like European market cars.
MB quoted it as having a top speed of 210km/ h (130MPH) and a 0-100km (0-62 MPH) of 10. 6 seconds. Quoted fuel consumption is 12. 3 l/ 100Km (35MPG)... all I know is it a lush car to drive and on the motorway will sit at 120KPH, fuss free and as long as you like.
It is hard to explain, without sounding like my pants are on fire, how good the body work is. There simply isn't the usual UK market car worries about rust. And, if you really know these cars, then you know how vital that is. This is not an average 30 year old A124.
Build sheet codes:
625 Version for Australia
300 Storage Box in Front Tray
291 Front Passenger Airbag
340 Additional 3rd Stop Lamp
341 Additional Indicator Lamps
420 Automatic Transmission 4-Gear
440 Tempomat Cruise Control
524 Paintwork Preservation
570 Folding Centre Armrest
580 Air Conditioner
613 Lamp Unit Asymmetrical, LH Traffic
652 8-Hole Alloy Rims
812 Rear Mounted Loudspeakers
873 Seat Heater for left and right front seats
916 Vehicles for hot countries: Large Volume Fuel Tank, heavy duty rubber. (runs on E10 nae worries)
When I bought this car it had only been in the UK 3 years and clearly had been cosseted. You could still see factory stickers underneath, however as soon as I bought it I had it completely factory spec undersealed by a local independent MB specialist. In my ownership the car has been garaged and not used in winter. The body work is genuinely amazing thanks to its antipodean heritage. The flip side of all that NSW sun is that the leather is cracked and worn in some areas. I have cleaned and treated it regularly and I just see it as part of the car's story. The convertible top is in decent condition with some signs of age and wear, nothing dramatic and nothing that affects its function. The interior heading is also aged. More importantly than these cosmetics, its had four new hydraulic struts during my ownership. It is a genuinely lovely example. It's a cliche but you could just jump in and drive to the Cote d'Azure... and it wouldn't miss a beat. The car will be 30 this year making it LEZ compliant in Scottish cities who operate such things.
